Mark Shriver thanks Lutheran Social Services for its work

LSS also recognized the P.H. Glatfelter family for its contributions.

Mark K. Shriver, the son of Sargent and Eunice Kennedy Shriver, came to York Thursday night to speak about the good work that Lutheran Social Services of South Central Pennsylvania does.

Shriver, who is senior vice president for strategic initiatives and senior advisor to the CEO at Save the Children, served as the keynote speaker of the 11th annual Lutheran Social Services Cornerstone Dinner at the Yorktowne Hotel.

Lutheran Social Services works with families and seniors. It offers six senior living communities, home health care, hospice care, in-home support and community outreach services, according the nonprofit organization.

Shriver talked about the contributions his family members have made over the years, including as legislators and president. His mother created the Special Olympics, and his father founded the Peace Corps.

"I think there is incredible things that people can do in their local communities," Mark Shriver said.

It could be tutoring or volunteering for Lutheran Social Services, he said. It doesn't have to be grand, and it makes a difference.

It was previously announced the P.H. Glatfelter family would receive the 2014 LSS Cornerstone Award for its generosity to the community during the past 150 years.

Here are some questions that Shriver answered before the dinner:

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Q. What is Save the Children?

A. Save the Children has been around for a little over 80 years. We work not only across America but in about 120 countries all around the world, including where I went last week in Rwanda and saw our programs saving newborn lives, which are the moms giving birth in a healthy and safe environment and the kids are living and thriving. ... In the U.S., we focus on early childhood education and make sure little babies in the first five years of life get the intellectual, social and emotional stimulation they need to enter kindergarten ready.

Q. What will you be speaking about?

A. The speech is going to talk about the good work that Lutheran Social Services does and how I think that is very analogous to the work that I've done and my family has done over the last 60, 70 years. I think what we're all trying to do is make a connection with each other and try to help our neighbor out whether our neighbor is in York or whether our neighbor is in Rwanda or whether our neighbor is in Maryland, where I live with my wife and three kids. We're all, I think, trying to help each other out, and that's what this organization does so beautifully.

Q. What is the most important point tonight?

A. I think what's really important is this community understand that Lutheran Social Services is doing great work here and it needs help. It needs volunteer help. It needs ... financial resources. There are all sorts of ways people can make contributions to their community.

Contact Teresa Boeckel at (717) 771-2031.

P.H. Glatfelter company receives award

The P.H. Glatfelter family received the prestigious 2014 LSS Cornerstone Award this year for its generosity to the community through charitable support, leadership and volunteer service.

The P.H. Glatfelter paper mill in Spring Grove is celebrating its 150th anniversary this year.

George Glatfelter, retired ex-chairman and CEO, said it was a special night for the Glatfelter family. Through the generations, the family has made contributions to the community but in a low-key style.

"This is actually the first time that I can recall in my life that the family has received this kind of honor," Glatfelter said. "And so we're a little uncomfortable just because it's a little different than what we generally do."

The family tends to stay in the background and that's very much a part of the culture of the family, he said.

The biggest contribution the Glatfelter has made in the community is the one that's not often recognized, Glatfelter said. One hundred and fifty years ago, his great-great-grandfather came to York County and started a business of making paper. The family has been doing that for 150 years, employing six generations of York Countians. Today the business spans 11 different facilities around the world, but Spring Grove remains the home base.

"York County is where, I think, the bulk of the benefit has come from with respect to the company," he said.